Mr Entsch confirmed in Parliament yesterday that his business partner
“was approached in about mid-March by a representative of the Defence
Department in Townsville to submit a price on a job at the RAAF Scherger .”

The head of DefenceEstate, Mr Rod Corey, revealed
at Estimates that the project managers, GH and D had provided the RAAF
with a list of three potential suppliers of concrete for the job.

A delegate from the RAAF contacted Cape York Concrete
for a quote for the job. The delegate did not obtain a quote from either
Boral Concrete or McCosker Contracting Pty Ltd, which were the alternative
suppliers on the GHD list.

The delegate consulted a Boral price list obtained
from a source other than Boral, and did not seek a competitive bid directly
from Boral for the work.

Cape York Concrete was advised on March 31 that it
had obtained the contract.

At 8.30am on April 20, a representative from Boral
complained at the Scherger site that he had been given no opportunity
to quote for the job. This is corroborated in the attached minute signed
by Flight Sergeant P Jones: “The reason you (Boral Concrete) were
not asked to tender was the short notice given to the site manager.”

On the evidence obtained through Senate Estimates
this procurement did not meet the Defence Guidelines.

Note: The Defence Procurement Guidelines are held in DPL information
files